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STIFF COMPETITION AWAITS SABALENKA
The Straits Times
|January 17, 2026
World No. 1 aims to reclaim Melbourne crown, but Swiatek, Rybakina and Americans lurk
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Aryna Sabalenka practising in Melbourne ahead of the Jan 18 start of the Australian Open. She faces wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah of France in her opener.
(PHOTO: AFP)
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is favourite to win a third Australian Open in four years, but faces strong opposition from a US contingent led by Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek is another big threat while two-time Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka will hope to be in the mix when the first Grand Slam of the year begins on Jan 18.
Keys stunned Sabalenka 12 months ago in a classic three-set final to win her first Major title aged 29. But she failed to kick on from there, not winning another tournament after the Australian Open triumph, and the world No. 9 will have a target on her back as the titleholder.
Three other Americans are ranked inside the world’s top 10 – Gauff (third), Amanda Anisimova (fourth) and Jessica Pegula (sixth).
The 21-year-old Gauff beat Sabalenka in the French Open final in 2025 for her second Grand Slam crown, but her best performance on the Melbourne Park hard courts was making the semifinals in 2024.
Cette histoire est tirée de l'édition January 17, 2026 de The Straits Times.
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